GRIP group rehabilitation programme

The graduated, rehabilitative, integrated programme (GRIP) is suitable for many patients who have been formally diagnosed through the Tees Specialist CFS/ME service.

The specialist team will discuss suitability of GRIP as a rehabilitation option with the patient before referral to the programme.

Aim of GRIP

The aim of GRIP is to help patients understand CFS/ME as a long term condition and help them develop their self management skills to improve their health and wellbeing over the longer term.

The multidisciplinary team teach on GRIP and the sessions are relaxed, informative, supportive and positive.

Who can attend GRIP?

To be eligible for GRIP, patients must have received a medical diagnosis of CFS/ME through the Tees Specialist CFS/ME service.

Patients should:

Have accepted the diagnosis and be willing to engage in rehabilitation

Be willing to review and adjust their lifestyle in order to improve their health and wellbeing

Be happy to be part of a small group of patients

Be willing to actively take part in discussions and implement advice given in sessions

Please note: patients’ experiences of CFS/ME vary and patients are encouraged to develop a positive attitude to rehabilitation.

Format of the programme

The group rehabilitation programme consists of four sessions run over six to seven months. Each session is two hours with rest breaks and has a maximum of eight to ten patients per group. Patients need to attend all four sessions as part of their rehabilitation programme.

What happens after GRIP?

After the patients have completed their rehabilitation through GRIP, they will be offered a final Outpatient clinic review prior to discharge.

As a result of patient evaluation through GRIP, a community patient support group has been established for all Tees CFS/ME patients and is hosted by ME North East. Please see further information on the CFS/ME patient information webpage.

GRIP patient information booklets

There are four patient booklets to reinforce clinical advice from the GRIP programme. The booklets are available to download for patients, carers, GPs and other healthcare professionals.

The team hope that widening access to CFS/ME advice will help to raise awareness of CFS/ME as a long term condition and develop professionals’, patients’ and the public’s understanding of CFS/ME.

Pacing is used as a user-friendly term for patients but the emphasis is on supported, controlled activity management to help the patients get fitter and stronger.

The team use ‘PACE’ as an acronym to help people remember the key principles of rehabilitation:

P – Physical energy levels & symptoms

A – Activity management

C – Cognitive energy levels & impairments

E – Emotional status

We are aware of the PACE trial’s recommendations but just find PACE a useful prompt for patients and other professionals. Thank you.

Please note: The Tees CFS/ME Specialist team would be grateful if you could acknowledge their material if used.